Yazd
Offering delicious 'tray food' of traditional mixed grills (kababs and vegetables), this restaurant is housed in the henna district of Yazd in a former…
Must-see restaurants in Iran
Iran
From the upper road above the town centre, a zigzag staircase next to crazy stone paving leads to this traditional-style restaurant with views of the…
Esfahan
Near the Si-o-Seh Pol, this modest venue offers reputedly the best fast food in town – it certainly does a roaring trade. The felafel is particularly…
Iran
At the Paris end of Golsar, this swanky diner is a good place to sample Gilani dishes, fish in particular. There's a live piano player, so go ahead and…
Iran
Come to this bright new place in a hidden courtyard towards the back of Sa'd-al Saltaneh caravanserai for the airy ambience and the tasty Persian…
Iran
Three floors of smart Gilani dining present such options as torshe tareh (a citrusy dish of local sorrel and egg) and amazing oven-baked sardines.
Iran
In the alley of the same name, the Yas is cheap and cheerful and does a fine rendition of the local qimeh nimeh (succulent stewed lamb on rice).
Iran
If you've overdone the kababs, the cheeky Bros have just the remedy: a foot-long bread-roll felafel-fest! These puppies are the best in town.
Iran
Down easy-to-miss stairs, Kaktus, with its clean, modern decor, remains one of Hamadan’s most popular kabab restaurants.
Iran
A local Golsar favourite, and a good place to sample Gilani cuisine, Shour Kooli specialises in sour stews and fish.
Iran
This bright, clean, pine-ceilinged restaurant offers Iranian and Caspian favourites right on Hasankeif Sq.
Iran
This cheap and cheerful small restaurant does tasty takes on the usual kababs, stews and rice dishes.
Kashan
One of the best shops in Kashan to buy the town's signature biscuits and melt-in-the-mouth macaroons.
Iran
This large, new basement restaurant, across the road from the Negin Hotel, feels a little generic but the short menu is available in English and the…
Southeastern Iran
Low-priced, good-quality meals see locals clamouring to order at this simple but not unattractive eatery: most people grab takeaways but there are takht …
Iran
The only restaurant within the Ferdosi Mausoleum park is brighter and more pleasant than it looks from outside, with a choice of carpeted seating or takht…
Esfahan
Located in the Armenian Quarter, this cafeteria-style restaurant serves enormous plates of food. There’s a large self-service salad bar and several…
Iran
If it were central this sofrekhane-style restaurant would be the obvious choice for kababs, tarchin (a layered lamb and rice dish) or a teahouse…
Southeastern Iran
Making cursory attempts to create a traditional teahouse atmosphere, this reliable yet inexpensive basement restaurant is a popular option for backpackers…
Esfahan
A favourite meeting place for local businessmen, smart young couples and ladies on shopping expeditions, the coffee shop at Esfahan’s best hotel serves…
Tabriz
It was once Tabriz' premier fish restaurant, but Baliq's standards no longer quite match its prices (which in turn don't quite match its bills). It's…
Iran
The facade looks bland, but inside the decor is a kitschy delight. Achaemenid figures lead down to a vaulted cavern, artificial grotto and circular dining…
Southeastern Iran
This sofrekhane sonati–style teahouse serves dizi and other basic meals at carpeted tea-beds, but it only opens in the evening (except on Fridays). When…
Iran
This family-oriented tea cavern overflows with character, especially in its carpet-draped front cellar. The good dizi sangi (stew of lamb, chickpeas and…
Iran
Currently the most popular restaurant in Nahar Khoran, Soufi looks very alluring from the road and the front-balcony tables with wrought-iron chairs are a…
Southeastern Iran
In Enghelab Park this domed teahouse has inexpensive kebabs; it's well worth considering for breakfast for its tomato omelettes (given a little extra zest…
Tabriz
A plexiglas elevator fires you through the Elgoli hotel atrium as though you're at Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, for predictably great views. The basic…
Yazd
Caesar, in vogue with a fashionable crowd, is a world away from Yazd's old city. Decent attempts at classic Italian dishes are worthwhile; the Iranian…
Iran
If the waft of delicious fresh bread from the bakery opposite Qom International Hotel makes you hungry, then the local-style restaurant next door is a…
Southeastern Iran
With enameled metal tables, a household kitchen stove and picture-tiled walls, this ultra-down-market cafe is a great spot for people-watching over a…
Tehran
Decorated with antique photographs, this traditional restaurant in the middle of the park, has a laid-back ambience and is a relatively quiet space …
Esfahan
Close to the Kelisa-ye Vank, this no-nonsense local favourite is housed in a cheery basement of pine furniture, illuminated dioramas and plastic flowers…
Tehran
This tiny, unpretentious lunchtime place serves a surprising range of Iranian dishes with Turkish fare thrown in. Kababs share space with huge pots of…
Tehran
Handy to the budget accommodation, this lunchtime place serves reliably good interpretations of the standard kababs, khoresht and zereshk polo ba morgh …
Southeastern Iran
This pleasant, bright kebab restaurant serves high-quality food in a slightly bare, triangular, drop-in dining room (and, for special occasions, in a…
Iran
This spacious, two-level fast-food restaurant has a certain elegance despite the lime-green colour scheme. A menu in English covers Iranian pizza, basic…
Iran
Tehran's fast-food chain comes to Orumiyeh. When you can't stomach another kabab or hidden surcharge, have a go at one of these meat-and-bean stews. There…
Iran
The logo implies a KFC knockoff, but while they do have ready-to-go fried chicken, there's also a range of pizzas, burgers, stuffed baked potatoes and…
Tabriz
In Daneshgah, east of the centre near the uni entrance, this is a tale of two restaurants. The scary day-glo fast-food section is popular with students,…
Tehran
Akbar Mashti became famous for his ice cream in the 1950s and today his son continues to sell what he modestly describes as ‘the most famous ice cream in…
